THE LABOR QUESTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6791, 16 January 1897, Page 3

THE LABOR QUESTION.

(Br ELCCTBfo Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(not UNTIED PRES3 ASSOCIATION.) Received January 15, at 3.15 p.m. Sydney, January 15. The owners could not see their way to ffTant any additional requests which the Conference called for. The engineers have abandoned their claims, and the Conference has closed. The men intend in future to work according to rules, but propose no hostile action. Received January 16, at 0.50 a m. Sydney, January 15. The engineers passed a resolution this evening deciding to suspend the rule prohibiting men working with non unionists for three months. Received January 16, at 10.10 a.m. A delaide, January 16. The Secretary of the local branch of the Engineers* Associatioa has received information from headquarters that it has been decided that members could return to the Adelaide Company's steamers. A meeting of local engineers confirmed the decision. Received January 16, at 10.15 a.m Sidney, January 14. The Engineers a3 a body are little short of disgusted at the efforts to secure better terms, and express their feelings in no measured language. " Knowing what we know now," said one of them "and that an honorable understanding with the owners i 3 impossible, we relied on their word and made the inconvenience to the public as light as possible, and this is cur reward. We ought to have paralysed the entire traffic and then perhaps would have been listened to with some effect. We have been outgeneralled, and that is the whole fact." These sentiments are echoed by most of the engineers who regard their defeat as a most crushing one. As in most cases of this kind the leaders come in for hard words. It is said that the power of the owners was underrated, and that throughout the leaders showed a lamentable failure to grasp the true situation. This, together with the misunderstanding with the Wellington branch and the unscrupulous conduct of some Melbourne owners in bringing pressure to bear on their old servants, is given as the reason for defeat. That pressure, the engineers hold, was more than these old servants could stand, and one man who was seen last night stated that the Melbourne Committee said that it was absolutely necessary to close the strike before further defections took place. (BT TELEGRAPH). Welzinoton, January 15. The Seamen's Union has asked owners for an increase of LI per month, and Is 6d per hour for overtime, so as to reinstate the standard wages that were current in 1893. The present rate is: Firemen and greasers, L 8 for four-hour watches, and L 9 for six-hour watches; trimmers and sailors, L 6. The Union believe their demands will be granted, but they hold a meeting to-night to consider the matter, and if an unfavorable answer is returned steps will be taken to set the Conciliation Act to work.

At a meeting of the Federated Seamen's Union the question of an increase of wages to sailors, firemen, and trimmers was brought up, and it was resolved that unless a favorable reply be received before the 20th January steps will be taken to bring the matter before the Conciliation and Arbitration Court. The report showed the Union to be in a strong financial position.